Our Great Cloud of Witnesses

At the recently concluded 2012 London Olympics, over four billion viewers watched Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt enter the history books by becoming the first man ever to retain the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m Olympic gold medals. Eighty thousand of the viewers packed the Olympic stadium and witnessed the spectacular runs of this gifted athlete, and other performances by other gifted athletes like him in their respective sports across this and other venues. Though naturally and extraordinarily talented, the men and women were spurred on by the cheering of the crowds; giving of their best even when it seems there was no more left to give - emotionally, physically, and mentally.

There is something about positive encouragement that causes one to strive for what he or she is capable of being or doing. As Ralph Waldo Emerson puts it, "Our chief want is someone who will inspire us to be what we know we could be.” That is because striving takes a lot of work. Henry Longfellow was right when he said, "The heights by great men reached and kept were not attained in sudden flight but, they while their companions slept, they were toiling upwards in the night.” In the midst of striving, there is often the potential for setbacks, discouragement, resignation, and defeat. We all need good encouragers.

The Christian is no different. Living in a world system that persistently challenges and wears on the believer, many have become weary in well doing. It becomes harder and harder to run the race; to remain true to The Call. However, the writer to the Hebrews reminds us that we are not without an audience that is watching and cheering us on. He writes, "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us" (Hebrews 12:1, KJV). It is instructive that this chapter follows Hebrews 11, the listing of some of the Bible's "Hall of Fame" faith-walking members. According to the writer, lets us run the race as if they are the ones who are cheering us on. What august company!

The Christian life is not a sprint; it is a marathon. It takes determination and perseverance to complete the race. Amidst the intensity of the race and the numerous distractions, if you listen intently enough you will hear the cheers. Not of eighty thousand voices, but those of all of heaven. Every single one of them saying, “You can make it!” All of them rooting for you to win. So, amidst the spiritual fatigue and exhaustion we often feel, let us keep stride, let us keep going, we must run this race to win.